AFTER a frustrating run of three defeats, Hexham bounced back to winning ways with a solid display against Seaton Burn.

Their guests started the unwelcome winless run when they beat Hexham 3-0 last month, but Hexham exacted their revenge to win a game they controlled 3-1.

Manager Martin Lowes reverted to a 4-3-3 formation, and it allowed the team to show more attacking intent.

A back four of Tom Hacking, Ciaran Fleming, Brad Ives and Michael Robson provided good protection to goalkeeper Tom Craney, to allow the rest of the team to attack.

Matt Wilson and Will Forsyth have both recently returned to Hexham after brief stints with Gateshead Rutherford and Ryton and Crawcrook Albion, and they formed an attacking midfield trio alongside Callum Duncan.

There was plenty of creativity of the wings too courtesy of tricky teenagers Brad Lowes and Robbie Pattison, with Kurtis Harvey playing through the middle.

It was hosts Hexham who drew first blood with the opener on 10 minutes, an unselfish act from Pattison seeing him tee up Duncan on the edge of the area to slam home.

But Burn were back on level terms five minutes later when Forsyth lost his footing in the middle of the park, allowing Seaton Burn to pounce on the loose ball for Arman Mirkarimi to find a way past Craney.

Hexham continued to press, but it wasn’t until the 60th minute when they eventually edged back ahead.

A corner from Forsyth caused a goalmouth scramble, and Lowes reacted quickest to continue his electric form in front of goal.

Burn were still in the game and looked dangerous on the break, but Hexham remained firm at the back to limit their guests to half chances.

It remained nervy until a moment of brilliance from Lowes settled the game in Hexham’s favour.

Running with the ball up the left wing, he cut inside and bore down on the goalkeeper before smashing a great effort into the back of the net to kill the game as a contest. With the squad at an average age of around 24, Lowes snr was able to add more youth to proceedings with Ben Rogers and Nathan Riley brought on from the bench, as was 16-year-old Lewis McPartlin after being released recently from Carlisle United.